Three Students Swept Out to Sea in Kagoshima

Aug 29, 2026 | News On Japan

KAGOSHIMA - Three teenage boys who went missing after being swept offshore from the coast of Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima Prefecture, on August 28 were found in the sea near the scene on August 29 and confirmed dead.

The victims were 17-year-old high school student Haruki Shimoebisu, his 13-year-old brother Kensei Shimoebisu, a junior high school student, and 14-year-old junior high school student Takahiro Takemoto, all from Ichikikushikino.

According to the Japan Coast Guard and firefighters, four junior and senior high school students were swept offshore at around 3:30 p.m. on August 28. One was rescued, while the other three remained missing.

Search operations continued through the night, and on August 29 the three boys were found floating in the sea near the scene and recovered. All three were later confirmed dead.

The students had gone to the area as a group of five to go fishing and later began playing by jumping into the sea from rocks.

The area is known for strong offshore currents called rip currents, which can carry swimmers away from shore, but it was not designated as a no-swimming zone.

Source: TBS

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